Part 1. Enjoy xxxx

Rayna sighed heavily as she opened the door to her home, today would be her first time home since the CMA party. Searching the room she found the vanilla iced cake the girls had made for her, a warm comforting sensation burned within her, she missed them more now than ever and the idea of having to go back on tour and leaving everyone she loved; Maddie, Daphne and Deacon, depressed her monumentally. Rayna dropped her bags on the floor by the door, sticking her hands casually in her back pockets she made her way through the deserted kitchen to the cake. She stuck her index finger out and delicately swirled it in the icing before bringing it to her mouth to taste, 'the girls are gonna kill me for that' she laughed to herself about her daughters' tendencies to over react.

Making her way into the living room, Rayna coolly kicked off her stilettos before slumping onto the plush upholstery. She sighed as she laid there on her back, staring into the vast space above her. Never in her fourteen years of living in this house, had it ever been this quiet even when it was just her and Teddy, before Maddie was born, there was always something going on. They frequently had friends over, well more acquaintances than friends, from the country club. Rayna would smile, try to keep involved in whatever trivial conversation they were involved in as she handed out lemonade and hors d'oeuvres. But now. Now it was deathly silent. No manic children. No husband. No Deacon. Oh Deacon. It had only been forty minutes since she had left his, but she missed him already. The desperation and sense of longing she felt now must only be a fraction of what he had to endure for thirteen years. She could feel the familiar sense of guilt creeping up on her 'Stop it Rayna!' she told herself, she wouldn't let the past dictate the present. She needed to focus on what she has now rather than what she didn't have then; Deacon. Rayna fidgeted on the settee, inching her body up slightly so that she could reach the phone in her back pocket and into her view. She scrolled through her contacts swiftly until she found his name, selecting him she brought up a message.

I Miss You.

She entered softly, she didn't care if it looked desperate, and every inch of her being wanted to be surrounded by him, being back here; back in this house, made her long for him even more. Having him back in her life only made her realise how empty she was without him. The love she held for Teddy at the best of times was nothing like this, even when she and Deacon were apart there was a desire gluing them solidly together. Rayna hit send on her iPhone screen; she tossed the phone onto a neighbouring armchair before tossing her tresses behind her and making up for all the lost sleep from the previous night.

Deacon kicked off his couch, staring widely at the mess that was his house. Papers were everywhere; cutlery, plates and mugs were scattered across various shelves and mantle pieces and a vast amount of clothing was clumsily discarded throughout his house. 'Rayna,' he smirked to himself. After twenty years she was still as messy as the day he had met her, his environment looked like the aftermath of a frat- party, minus the alcohol. After their blow up at the CMA party, they had spent the night writing, making love, and then writing again, they only got an hour of sleep between the two of them. When one fell asleep, the other would wake up in desperate need of satisfaction. Deacon picked up a bag and started compiling a collection of Rayna's belongings, she had gone home in nothing but a long shirt and stilettos, and he figured it was best he return all her sparkles. Deacon carefully placed the box on a counter as he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket, 'Rayna' it read. Deacon smiled as he read her message, however he didn't respond, he would rather converse with her than her iPhone.

'Hey,' he heard Rayna smile down the phone.

'Hey to you too,' he smiled back.

'I take it you got my message?' she asked coyly.

'I did, I did. Obviously, I miss you too. BUT. It has only been a couple of hours Ray, if we can't make it this long without communicating, what hope in hell do we have when you go back out on tour?' he teased.

'Actually,' Rayna interrupted assertively, 'I wanna talk to you about that,' she continued, 'how would you; feel about comin' out with me? You won't be in the band but I d'know…I just think it would be nice for us to spend some time together, outside Nashville that is.'

Deacon smiled, he hadn't been out on tour with Rayna for three years, and they hadn't been on tour as a couple for a good fifteen. 'Erm, well my whole schedule cleared up a lil' bit…but ill have to check my calendar…y'know I got a lot going on in the unemployed world that is my life…but I think I could make that work.' He joked, hearing her laughing from her end of the line.

'Yeah?' Rayna asked gleefully

'Yeah' he mimicked. 'Oh and Ray-'

'Yeah?'

'I've got a delightful pair of lace underwear in my hands and they certainly aren't mine so I-'

'Deacon Claybourne! Do you have a lady friend with you?' she falsely exclaimed, tipping her head back in laughter.

'Err…..no…but if I did, would you be jealous?' he teased.

'Well your ego doesn't need increasing after last night so I will see you tonight for take-off.'

'Take-off of clothing?'

'Keep on dreamin' Romeo,' she quipped.

'Alright well I'll come by the house at six with all your stuff and we can ride to the airport together if that works for ya?'

'Yup…' she mused for a few seconds, the hushed breathing on the other side of the phone was surprisingly comforting to her, 'You know what?'

'what?'

'I love you!' she proclaimed, beaming down the phone.

'That's good, because I love you too.'

- Backstage –

'Y'know, when you invited me on tour with you, I didn't think we'd be sneaking around…I mean, we aren't teenagers anymore Ray,' he smiled into her exuberant kiss.

'I know, I know, but I don't want the world finding out before the girls do, they're my priority right now.' She grinned, before she hopped down from toes where she was firmly placed. Rayna coolly walked over to her dressing room door and closed it forcefully.

'Finally some privacy in the circus,' she exhaled, clasping her palms together in a nun like manor.

Deacon laughed as he slumped back into the plus loveseat that dominated the dressing room. His feet were casually propped up on the glass coffee table and one arm was slumped loosely over the backrest. Rayna made her way over to him and nestled in the alcove of his form, It was a routine they had mastered so perfectly, even though it had been almost fifteen years since they had been able to lounge in such manner.

'So,' Deacon sighed softly as he pulled Rayna further into his embrace, 'my work schedule just cleared up a whole lot and not to seem rude bu-'

'You wanna play with me?' Rayna beamed, her eyes lighting up in glee.

'Well, not to be outta'line or anthin' but er, I really don't think your replacements have been up to par. You know, it's not that they're not good, but I know a real great guy willing to step in' he smiled cheekily, watching her nose crinkle in amusement.

'Oh you do do you?' she smirked leaning in to peck him gently.

'Uh-huh,' he smiled into her.

'Well I'll have to see what I can do, no promises though, I mean, I cannot tell you how many times I have had to wait for fricken guitar players…'she teased.

'Oh im sure I can imagine, but y'know this guy is pretty solid, broad, about 6ft3, dark, brooding. Got that whole rock-star package nailed to a Tee.'

'Sounds familiar,' Rayna chuffed, swatting him playfully leaning down to pick up her lukewarm mug of green tea. 'Yuckkkk' Rayna coughed, wrinkling her nose in disapproval.

Deacon laughed at her childish behaviour,' Seriously though Ray, when are we gonna be able to do this outside the confides of dressing rooms and bedrooms?' he quizzed, knowing full well that they had done "this" in several other places, but never near actual people.

His eagerness made Rayna smile, she and Deacon had always had a relationship, they had never done the whole sneaking around regime because it had never been necessary. In the early days, they would cavort around in front of anyone who stopped to watch; a frenzy of wandering hands and stolen kisses. Gradually, as the years progressed, the two had become so at ease with one another that they seemed like a married couple, the passion remained, but they had started to pick on annoyances and pet hates. The way she stomped her feet impatiently at him or the way he would always be twenty minutes late to anything; reservations were almost impossible for them. When she had married Teddy, the two had remained as close, just on a platonic level. The crew didn't ask questions when the two of them would disappear to write together. The crew understood the respect that Deacon had for Rayna and visa versa, they understood that Rayna would never do anything to jeopardise her family and the careful frontier she had built around herself. After all, rehashing old memories would do more bad than good.

'Well…' she paused, thinking about what she was about to offer him, bringing him home to the girls meant that they were in it for the long haul. That it was all or nothing, there would be no backing out now, she didn't want to disrupt the already fragile support system the girls had at the minute. 'How about you come round to the house for dinner tomorrow night? Just you. And me. And the girls.'

Deacon's heart sped up, Rayna was finally letting him in, letting him be part of her family. 'Yeah,' he grinned, a Cheshire cat-esque smile creeping over his face. 'I would love that.' He said softly, bringing him on top of her so that she was now straddling him.

Rayna brushed the hair from Deacon's eyes, caressing his face, stroking her fingers gently over his short stubble. 'Good,' she nodded, bringing her head down closer to his. Her lips lingered in front of his for a second, before their mouths met and their tongues battled for leadership.

'Rayna…' deacon groaned.

'Deacon' Rayna retorted, mimicking his tone.

'We should probably get a room,' he nodded, hitching her further up onto him.

'We've got a whole penthouse babe, but im fine here. I just hope Bucky doesn't walk in. That would be awkward.'

'Or Juliette…' Deacon mused, laughing to himself at the thought of his former boss interrupting them.

Rayna lifted her palms of Deacon's chest and removed herself from his lap. ' Well that's a mood killer,' she sighed.

'Seriously?' Deacon asked in surprise and amusement.

'Yup, besides Mr, I better be getting you outta here, I don't want any V.I.P.s walking in on us in…let's just say…a compromising situation.' She winked, pulling him up from the couch playfully.

'Fine,' he sighed grumpily, pulling her into a spin before embracing her. 'Let's just stay like this though…for a lil'bit, before the real world invades.'

'Look who's being secretive now Mr,' she chortled, prodding him on the shoulder with her index finger.

'The names Claybourne. Deacon Claybourne.' She heard him whisper under her breath as she pulled her faux-fur leather jacket.

'C'mon, let's get outta here.' She took his hand in hers and led him through the back exit of the arena into her car.

'Keep your mitts off the salad missy, you're gonna ruin your dinner.' Rayna warned her eldest daughter, pointing the chopping knife at her playfully.

'Whatever mom,' Maddie whined, rolling her eyes at her mother.

'Enough of the cheek Madame, I want you both on your best behaviour tonight alright.' Rayna instructed in all seriousness.

'Yes mom.' Her two daughters chimed, fingers crossed in the air in salute.

'Daph, do me a favour and get the tomatoes out the fridge sweetie,' Rayna asked sweetly before turning back to her eldest, 'so did your dad take you to the museum so you could get your assignment finished?'

Maddie slumped down sadly. 'What?' Rayna asked.

'He couldn't come, he was "busy" and then when he was finally finished he had to pick me up from soccer and drop me home. Why can't you just take me?' she whinged, playing with the pieces of cucumber that were in front of her.

'Well you know I'd love to honey,' Rayna lied, museums were not on the top of her bucket list,' but I'm working round the clock on this record label. I gotta find a new act before I launch at the Opry.' Rayna reasoned, hoping her daughter would understand.

'I thought you got found a second act?' Maddie quizzed, becoming more interested by the second.

Rayna watched in amusement as her daughter bounced up, eyes glittering with anticipation, 'Don't get any ideas babe, you're gonna finish school before I sign you to anything.'

Maddie sighed and rolled her eyes , same old story , she thought to herself, plastering on a false smile for her mother.

Rayna smiled back, mimicking her daughter's cheekiness. 'Besides,' she continued, 'I'm looking for a guy…' she trailed, not hearing footsteps approaching her.

'What about Deacon?' Daphne chirped up from below the breakfast bar. 'He is a guy.' She added.

Rayna's heart sped up as she saw Deacon casually approach her, he was carrying a box loosely under his arm which he placed gently on the table – totally at ease with himself. Rayna cocked his head and smiled. 'She's right,' Deacon nodded, 'I am a guy.' He winked at Rayna, who was fully aware of his manhood.

Maddie chirped in before Rayna could respond to his flirtation, 'I think my mom's looking for someone a little younger' she giggled, crunching off a piece of cucumber.

'BURRRRN!'Daphne howled, as Rayna and Deacon both looked at each other in beguilement.

'No offence,' Maddie added, still reeling from her previous comment.

Deacon shrugged, letting his hips bump slickly into Rayna's, 'No offence taken…' he smiled, making Maddie shrug, 'But you're not getting any pie.' He smirked, flipping open the cardboard box to reveal a perfectly poised lemon meringue.

'Ooooooh' Daphne echoed, making her sister elbow her in the side.

'Girls stop.' Rayna hushed, before turning to Deacon. 'Thank you for bringing that pie by the way, it looks too good for you to have made it so I appreciate you going out to fetch it.' Rayna quipped, watching Deacon shake his head.

'You know me so well…anything I can do to help?' he asked politely, wanting to make sure that the evening ran smoothly for the both of them.

Rayna exhaled in relief, 'You know what you can do. You can take these people to the other room and keep them occupied whilst momma gets dinner done.'

Deacon clapped his hands together with purpose, 'Alright people, up and at'em people.' he snapped sweetly as Maddie tugged at his free hand.

'C'mon Uncle Deacon, you promised you'd play with us.' She whinged, leading him into the music room.

'Oh I don't know, I saw y'all in New York do Ho Hey, and I hate to admit it but im pretty intimidated.' He said softly, joking but the girls bought it.

Rayna's heart melted a little as she watched her daughters hang on to his everyword as the followed him out of the kitchen.

'Okay, so does that mean you know the song?' Daphne asked sweetly.

'Yeah I could probably pick it up,' he smiled back at her, patting Maddie softly on the back as she handed him a guitar.

'I don't know if I wanna play, im really not that great,' Maddie said softly.

'You kidding?' Deacon looked back at her in disbelief, she was as good as he was at her age; if not better.

Maddie just shrugged not really knowing what to say. 'To hell you're not.' Deacon reassured her.

'LANGUAGE!' Daphne caught him out, making all four of them laugh in symbiosis.

'Sorry, but it's true,' he argued as he sat down opposite the two girls, 'You're better than half the set musicians I've played with,' he comforted her.

Maddie looked up from the Gibson she was tuning, and beamed up at Deacon. 'Really?'

'Absolutely, tell you what. You start off and ill come in behind y'all.' He smiled, watching the girls sit up straight in preparation.

Deacon shut his eyes to embrace the soft tones he found flowing into his ears, 'That's it,' he whispered.

I've been trying to do it right

I've been living a lonely life

Maddie sung as Daphne followed suit, Deacon looked back over to Rayna, who was perched on a barstool, pretending to chop veg, positively glowing.

I've been sleeping here instead

I've been sleeping in my bed

Deacon had gotten so lost in the purity of the children's' voices, that he hadn't notice Rayna dramatically drop her knife as Teddy entered the room. A painfully awkward silence filled the vast space as Deacon looked over to Rayna, who stood dumbstruck not knowing what to say. Rayna looked back for support, then over to Teddy to urge him to say something, worried that the girls would pick up on the tension.

Teddy cleared his throat, 'Hey dad!' Daphne ran up to Teddy and wrapped her arms around his legs, clearly oblivious to the tension in the room.

'Hey honey,' he smiled, bending down to kiss her head before waving over to his eldest daughter.

'Hi Dad,' Maddie smiled, not bothering to get up from her place opposite Deacon.

'What's going on here?' Teddy interrogated, shooting daggers at Rayna.

Rayna awoke from the frozen state she was locked in, 'We were, er just making some dinner.' She smiled sweetly, not wanting to freak the girls out OR Deacon for that matter. 'Surprised to see you?' Rayna added, not knowing if she was asking or simply stating the last bit.

'Yeah well Maddie left her soccer gear in the car, figure she'd need it for her game in the morning.' He paused. His lips pursed and his knuckles were clenched.

'Thanks,' Maddie said softly, taking the clothing from her father and placing it on the floor next to her.

Rayna glanced apologetically over to Deacon, who was staring intensely at Teddy.

Teddy smiled down at his daughter, before looking sternly over to Rayna. 'Could I have a word with you please?' he asked, knowing that she would have asked the same thing in a matter of time.

'Yeah, er sure.' She nods, following him into the hallway, stroking Deacon's arm and smiling lovingly down to the girls as she does so.

'What the hell is this Rayna?! I thought I made my position clear and I walk into my house and he is just sitting there?!' Teddy snarls, pointing his finger accusingly towards Deacon.

'Teddy.' Rayna said calmly, trying to diffuse the situation, 'We are getting a divorce, this is not your call.'

'You didn't want them around Peggy and I don't want my daughters around him.' he spat.

Rayna's mouth formed a perfect 'O', 'You were having an affair!' she shouted in hushed undertones.

'So were you…'

'I was no-'

'Emotionally the entire time we were married!' he yelled, becoming redder and more aggravated by the second.

'Unbelievable…don't you come in here and try to rewrite history…Daphne was not exactly born out of a show of a marriage…we loved each other. That changed. Those girls are always gonna be your daughters but don't you dare think you can come in here and dictate what my life will be.' She fumed, her anger was sky rocketing.

Teddy cocked his head and smirked in disbelief, he didn't reply, but when he saw Deacon approaching he spun on his heels and stormed out the door.

Deacon approached Rayna and wrapped his arms around her waist; he pressed his lips firmly on her shoulder before releasing his grasp so that he could face her. 'Everything alright in here?' he asked.

Rayna exhaled, a strong sense of relief washed over her as she placed her hands on Deacons shoulders. She didn't answer straight away, she needed to process what had just happened between her and Teddy. 'Yeah.' She added flatly before whisking him back into the kitchen.

Plastering on a false smile, she let go of Deacon's hand as she saw the girls watching the closely. 'Alright girls, I hope you're hungry because I have been slaving all day over this dinner.' She winked handing out plates and cutlery to Deacon who was busy preparing the table.